Barbara Riddell

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Accredited member of the BACP
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Epsom, Surrey, KT19
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I help people who experienced trauma/abuse in their childhood, especially if it is still affecting them: 

  • “I feel ashamed” 
  • “I hate myself” 
  • “I’m disgusting” 
  • “Everyone leaves me”
  •  “I’m useless”
  •  “I would rather be dead”

These are typically the kind of thoughts of people who have experienced a traumatic/abusive childhood which can have a profound effect in adulthood.  Most of us associate ‘trauma’ with events such as war and describes something overwhelming, frightening, even life threatening.  When it is severe enough to affect your everyday functioning then it is called PTSD.   There is also something called Complex PTSD which occurs in people who have been subjected to violence, abuse or neglect in childhood resulting in problems in adulthood.  Examples include: 

Physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect:

Physical abuse: hitting, smacking, shaking, burning, choking or any psychical injury to the body

Sexual abuse: any unwanted act of a sexual nature inflicted on a child by an adult or another child

Emotional abuse: any behaviour where a child is constantly criticised, put down, threatened, bullied, dismissed, yelled at, etc 

Neglect: when food, clothing, warmth, housing, or medical care are deliberately withheld. Emotional neglect is when no love, support or attention is shown to the child by parents/caregivers.

Witnessing violence or abuse in the home: 

  • Seeing or hearing parents shouting, arguing, being hit, choked, punched, etc
  • Witnessing the aftereffects of domestic violence – seeing a parent with cuts, bruises and other physical injuries
  • Feeling frightened, alone, ashamed, angry at the abusing or abused parent.

Having an alcoholic parent(s):

  • Feeling the drinking was/is your fault
  • Never knowing what mood the parent(s) will be 
  • Tiptoeing around them, not wishing to upset them in a case they drink
  • Buying alcohol for them, even when underage
  • Clearing up after them
  • Being invited to join in with their drinking

 These are just some examples, yours may be different.  Surviving abuse or trauma as a child has been linked with higher rates of depression, self-harm, anxiety, eating disorders, suicide, abuse of alcohol and drugs, relationship difficulties, problems with intimacy and trust, etc.  

It’s common for the impact of Complex PTSD to be felt many years, even decades, later.

But, you may think, was it 'that bad'?  If you're not living life to the fullest, then yes, maybe it was 'that bad'.  Symptoms of PTSD include nightmares and flashbacks of the event, feeling emotionally numb, or feeling constantly ‘on alert’ or being hypervigilant and Complex PTSD may include:

  • feelings of shame or guilt
  • being easily startled
  • difficulty controlling your emotions
  • dissociating – feeling as if you are ‘not there’, ‘spacing out’, ‘losing time’
  • self-harm, destructive or risky behaviour - overdosing, cutting, alcohol or drug abuse
  • feeling frightened of people shouting, confrontation, people in authority
  • feeling suicidal 
  • feeling distrustful of others
  • feeling dirty, damaged or worthless
  • feeling different to other people
  • thinking nobody would believe you
  • physical symptoms – headaches, stomach upsets, feeling anxious with a racing heart, etc.

How can counselling help you?

You can’t change the past but you can put an end to the emotional pain that has robbed you of living life to the fullest.  

Counselling is a talking therapy that helps you come to terms with your life experiences and find peace.  I will help you be free from the effects of the trauma so that you can take back control of your life and move from being a ‘victim of trauma’ to being a ‘trauma survivor’.  

One more thing – everything you say to me is confidential and NO ONE will be told that you are having counselling.  I do not contact your GP, place of work, family or anyone else.  

How I work: I hold counselling sessions online only.   I charge £55 per session.  I can see you in the daytime, evening and weekends.

About me: I am an experienced counsellor and an Accredited Member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy).  I trained as an integrative counsellor, which means I can draw on different counselling models to help people.

Training, qualifications & experience

Training & qualifications

  • Level 5 Diploma in Somatic Trauma Therapy
  • Accredited member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy).
  • Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
  • NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care (specialising in Substance Misuse)
  • Master's Degree in Cultural Studies
  • First Class BA (Hons) Degree in Contemporary Cultural Studies
  • Experience
  • Adults with Complex PTSD
  • Addictions - alcohol, drugs, online gambling
  •  Knowledge & understanding of Twelve Step Fellowships
  • People questioning their sexuality, wondering if they are gay/lesbian
  • Supporting people with severe & enduring mental health issues - eg bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder.

Member organisations

school Registered / Accredited

Registered / Accredited

Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).

Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.

Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.

All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.

Accredited register membership

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

  • Addiction to alcohol/drugs/online gambling
  • Anger management for men

Therapies offered

Photos & videos

Fees

£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone session

Concessions offered for

  • check_circle Low income
  • check_circle OAPs
  • check_circle Students
  • check_circle Trainee counsellors
  • check_circle Unemployed
  • check_circle Refugees

Additional information

I can occasionally offer concessions for students, unemployed people, those on benefits and pensioners. Proof will be required of your status.

Payment is via BACS

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

I work online only.

Further information

How do I book an appointment?
Email me (b.riddell@hotmail.co.uk) or phone/text/WhatsApp me on 07906 576167.  I know how frustrating it can be when you want help NOW but just get a voicemail message, but I will get back to you within 24 hours.

Please note - I only work with adults aged 18 and over.

Type of session

Online

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

DBS check info

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Online platforms

Google Meet
Skype

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